Initially, these skill upgradation courses of three to six months would be introduced in seventeen selected industrial training institutes (ITI) under PPP mode by Indian Institute of Skill Upgradation (IISD) in association with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The aim of the skill upgradation courses was to bridge the projected technical skill gap of 4.5 lakh by the year2017. When fully operational, the programme would produce an additional 12,000 to 15,000 skilled persons annually.

The cabinet also decided to bring 102 additional gram panchayats in Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Una, Kullu, Chamba, Solan and Sirmour districts under the fold of Mid Himalayan Watershed Development Project.

The number of beneficiary gram panchayats has been increased to 704 with a revised project cost of Rs. 510 crore and the project period has been increased by three years.